Exploring the Mechanistics of Stress Corrosion Cracking Through Fundamental Studies of Material Degradation in Hostile Environments
EMSL Project ID
48207
Abstract
Environmental degradation is a vital concern in high-temperature, hostile environments found in current and future generation power generation systems. Despite decades of research, there is no definitive understanding of the mechanisms by which these materials degrade and oftentimes crack in service. In this work we combine in-situ and ex-situ selective oxidation experiments of model alloy systems with the latest high-resolution analytical techniques (FIB, high-resolution SEM, TEM, APT, NanoSIMS and He-ion microscopy) to generate novel insights into the mechanistics of the material degradation process. Each technique offers its own unique insights into selective oxidation, vacancy creation, diffusion, dealloying and grain boundary migration that all contribute to the overall response of materials in hostile environments. Our empirical observations will provide evidence to both support and disprove existing theories on the mechanistics of materials degradation and guide the development of new analytical and computational models within this research program. This research program will produce critical linkages between experiment and theory that are vital to the development of predictive models of corrosion and material degradation that are needed for current power generation systems (e.g. lifetime extension of current nuclear reactors) and will act as a guide for the selection, evaluation and life-time monitoring of materials in next-generation power systems.
Project Details
Start Date
2013-11-07
End Date
2014-09-30
Status
Closed
Released Data Link
Team
Principal Investigator
Co-Investigator(s)
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